“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'” ~Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
Here are some shiny things that caught my eye recently:
♦ Holiday Cheer.
I love this image—found via Kirsty Stonell Walker’s wonderful blog, The Kissed Mouth—by Henri Paul Motte, Druids Cutting Mistletoe on the Sixth Day of the Moon (click to embiggen this bad boy). The detail and the color caught my eye, and I love the heavy feeling of ritual. Here’s what Walker wrote as a context for the painting:
The Druids celebrated the weakening of the darkness, the Mean Geimhridh, in its fight against the sun, and huge feasts and celebrations were held in the spirit of optimism and thankfulness that the sun would come again. This picture shows the All-Heal ritual performed by Druids in their ceremonial robes, cutting the mistletoe from trees with golden sickles. Found in trees, suspended half way between heaven and earth it symbolised the gateway to another world. The mistletoe was cut and suspended in the doorways of homes to enhance spells and prayers and to give the inhabitants beautiful dreams. When you pass under the mistletoe, you should exchange kisses for peace and magic.
By the by, if you’re interested in Victorian art, I highly recommend The Kissed Mouth, which covers a wide range of Victorian artists and subjects. Join her for Blogvent, where each day she presents a seasonal painting with commentary. Good stuff!
Druids Cutting Mistletoe on the Sixth Day of the Moon (c.1890) Henri Paul Motte
Continue reading →
